Improved oaepet steetohes



@eine tatr atut ffice.

WILLIAM J. JOHNSON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND H. A. HILDRETH, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 62,138, dated February 19, 186i?.V

' IMPROVED CARPET STRETGHER.

To ALL WHOM 1r MAY coNcERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. JonNsoN, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusctts, have invented new and useful improvements in Carpet Stretcher-s; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a mechanical device suiliciently magnetized to receive and hold a tack or nailpreparatory to its being driven into wood, or any other material, in any direction or angle.

To enable others skilled in the nrt to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 represents a plan of my improved carpet stretcher.

Figure 2 represents'a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 represents a vertical section through A and B of fig. 1.

a represents the handle; b, the serrated stretcher-plate with its shank c; d, the spring; e, the tube; flthe slot; g, the magnetepiston'; and 71 the steady-pin. The plate b is made with teeth, or serrated at the end, and fastened on the handle a by means ofthe shank c. Near the teeth, in the plate b, a suitable hole is made to receive and fasten firmly the tube e at right or any other angle with the plate, as may be desired, with its slotf. The magnetic piston g is made so. as to fit and slide freely through the-tube e. Near the end the pin i is attached, to which one end of the spring d is fastened, encircling the tube c, the other end bearing against the plate b, the spring ci giving the required action to the magnetic piston g when necessary, and also holding it in thetube e, so as to give the4 required room or space for the tack or nail, the piston g, at'oue end, having, previous to its insertion in the tube e, beenheavily artificially charged with magnet o1: loadstone. The operator, with the handle a in hand, inserts the stretcher, then drops a tack4 or nail head downwards into the tube e, which tube e in all cases being non-magnetic, is instantly attracted to thc piston g, and held by thcmagnetic power, as seen in iig. The operator then inverts the stretcher to, its former position, then places the serrated teeth against the edge of the carpet, presses it forward, stretches the edge of the carpet to its place; atthe same time, with a stroke of a suitable instrument, made of any material, on the end of the piston'g, drives home the tackor nailthrough the carpet into the door, vert-ical or at any angle, which fastens the same. The instrument Vbeing removed, the magnetic piston y resumes its former position by aid ofthe spring cl, and the stretcher is rcady'to receive another tack or nail. Thus it is obvious and apparent by this device a nail or tack can be driven do-wn vertically, or at any other angle, insuring the complete insertion of the shank of the tack ormail Without any risk or danger of being drawn and re-driven, which operation cannot be attained by the magnetica hammer face; therefore I disclaim applying magnetism in connection with a hammer. i

What I claim as my intention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I claim a carpet stretcher with a piston, or its equivalent, magnetically charged, for the purpose substantially as described. l

2. I claim a carpetstretching device, in combination with a magnetic tack-driving arrangement, for the purpose substantiallyr as described.

W. J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

A. R. BROWN. E. A. ALGER. 

